Bratislava Research Articles

Comparative analysis of airborne fungal spore distribution in urban and rural environments of Slovakia

Monitoring airborne fungal spores is crucial for public health and plant production since they belong to important aeroallergens and phytopathogens. Due to different land use, their concentration can differ significantly between urban and rural areas. We monitored their spectrum and quantity on two geographically close sites with a different degree of urbanisation: Bratislava City and Kaplna Village in Slovakia, located 38 km apart. We recorded the spectrum of airborne fungal spores over a year and confirmed the microscopic results by amplicon-based metagenomic analysis. The main spore season of the most frequent genera lasted over a week longer in Kaplna, but its intensity was approximately two-fold higher in Bratislava. This can be possibly connected to the microclimatic conditions of the urban area (especially wind speed and heat island effect) and the lesser use of fungicides. Cladosporium was the dominant genus on both sites, influencing the intensity most significantly. Through statistical analysis of the influence of meteorological parameters on airborne fungal spore levels, we identified a significant relationship with temperature, while the impact of other parameters varied depending on the spore type and release mechanism. Our results show the differences in airborne fungal spore levels between urban and rural areas and highlight the necessity for more monitoring stations in various environments.

The influence of infiltration devices on the urban area

AbstractIn a result of the increase in impervious surfaces in the urbanized area, there is an increase in surface runoff and at the same time an overload of the sewage network. In order to reduce the mentioned negative impacts in the inner city of Bratislava, this study was developed. The aim of this study was to design as possible the most efficient possible infiltration device for capturing rainwater and keeping it at the point of impact of precipitation of the addressed site. The Novohradska Grammar School campus was chosen as the area of interest. It is assumed that, together with elements of green infrastructure, these measures will be able to contribute in order to mitigate the adverse effects of urbanization in the capital.

Moss spores: overlooked airborne bioparticles in an urban environment.

Moss spores are present in aerobiological samples, but their low representation, lack of known allergenic properties, and difficult identification have led to their being overlooked by aerobiologists so far. The data about their presence in the atmosphere and the factors that influence them are, however, important from the biodiversity conservation point of view, since they give us information about their ability to spread to new habitats. In this pilot study, we analysed their presence in the atmosphere of Bratislava city, Slovakia (2018-2023), using Burkard volumetric sampler, and determined the most significant factors influencing its temporal distribution. The size category of 13-18 µm was the most represented in the samples. Environmental factors influenced the daily spore concentrations and the characteristics of the whole spore season. The start of the Main Spore Season (MSS) depended mainly on the temperatures in November-January, initiating earlier growth of sporophytes in the following year, while the intensity of the MSS was influenced by high humidity in April, stimulating the formation of spores in sporangia. The daily concentration of airborne moss spores was mostly influenced by the actual temperature and wind speed, promoting the release and dispersal of spores, and precipitation lowering their levels due to the "wash-out" effect, although no intradiurnal pattern was observed. More data from other locations is needed to determine the role of atmospheric spore transport for the conservation of moss species facing anthropogenic climatic change.

Occurrence, isolation, and identification of emergent pathogens of taxon Vibrio from the Danube river in Bratislava city, Slovakia

The occurrence of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio metschnikovii and Vibrio fluvialis, important aquatic human pathogens of genus Vibrio, were determined in the surface water of the Danube River in Bratislava. The isolates were identified by biochemical tests. Biochemical characteristics of environmental isolates could be slightly different from reference and clinical strains which is reflected in dissimilarity rate, which was in our case not sufficient. A molecular method called amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis was used for confirmation of phenotypic identification. The species identity of 19 out of 22 isolates was confirmed, in the case of 3 misidentified ones, the identity of the genus did not change. The identity of all V. cholerae isolates was confirmed by PCR using species-specific gene called ompW. Also, main virulence factors of these isolates were determined. None of the isolates possessed all three virulence factors necessary for the induction of cholera.

Urban public transport system accessibility for different groups of residents: Case of Bratislava city

The main goal of the article is to characterize the functioning of the Urban Public Transport System (UPTS) in the capital city of the Slovak Republic (Bratislava) during different time periods (morning rush, evening, night, average working day, and weekend − Sunday) and express its accessibility for various groups of city residents (low-income households, unemployed individuals, seniors (age 60+), children (age 0–14), women (for comparison, men as well). To achieve this goal, we combined datasets of UPTS in Bratislava with the pedestrian communication network and identified an effective service area for which we subsequently determined the sizes of the respective population groups of residents. Finally, we verified the functionality of the entire UPTS model by measuring the accessibility of the selected destination, Ružinov Hospital. Our results could be summarized as follows: The functioning of UPTS is very similar during the morning rush, evening, average working day (Monday to Friday), and weekend − Sunday. During these time periods, approximately the same main lines operate, and there is a higher utilization of the same transfer points. The difference lies mainly in the frequency of departures of specific lines. During the night, the system operates based on different lines compared to the daytime, with transfers possible only at one central point/corridor. This fact also affects the usability and accessibility of UPTS, reflected in the accessibility of Ružinov Hospital, which is very limited during the night-time period. However, the accessibility of the hospital by UPTS is higher for the unemployed residents, low-income individuals, and children than the overall residents average, which is also reflected in the distribution of women. A negative aspect is that UPTS is less accessible for seniors. It must be said that this fact varies significantly in the heterogeneous spatial layout of the city. This was confirmed in our measurement of the accessibility to Ružinov Hospital, where seniors have roughly the same level of accessibility as the overall residents average.

Re-Interpretation of Metal(Loid) Concentrations in Urban Soils of Two Different Land Uses by Positive Matrix Factorisation

Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) is a receptor model, which is frequently used in environmental geochemistry for metal(loid)s’ source apportionment in various matrices. In this study, concentration data for As, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn in urban soils of two land uses (playground and roadside soils) from the city of Bratislava (Slovak Republic) were reinterpreted using the PMF model to quantify the contributions of individual sources of metal(loid)s in soils. Brake and tyre abrasion (27.0%), mixed traffic/industrial sources (14.3%), and natural origin (58.7%) were identified for roadside soils, while mixed traffic sources (28.4%), Cu-specific source (24.6%), and natural origin (47.0%) contributed to the metal(loid) concentrations in playground soils. Factor contributions revealed prevailing non-exhaust sources dominated by Cu, Sb and Zn over mixed traffic/industrial sources in roadside soils, following the world trend. Strong negative correlations of the 206Pb/207Pb isotopic ratio with Factor 1 in both groups of soils, representing traffic and industrial sources, are an evidence of the correct assignment of the obtained factor profiles to the actual sources of metal(loid)s in soils. There were significant differences in the proportion of mixed traffic sources in playground soils among the five urban districts, while the largest proportion of this source was identified in the city centre with the longest urbanisation and industrial history. Error estimation methods (displacement, bootstrap, displacement with bootstrap) proved that the data fit the model well and there was a minimal rotational ambiguity and random errors in the base model run.

The Effect of the Development of Bicycle Transport from the Point of View of the Inhabitants of the City of Bratislava

Abstract As part of a change in the division of transport work, bicycle transport has made the most progress in recent years. As the largest city in Slovakia Bratislava, is trying to keep up with foreign cities. In recent years, it has developed projects that have made it possible to increase the development of cycling in the city. The last major cycling survey was conducted in 2011 by Cyklokoalicia. This survey aims at determining the momentum of bicycle traffic by identifying its greatest shortcomings or, conversely, the most positives. The data from the analysis given will also be used to develop a concept for the development of bicycle transport in the city of Bratislava.

Efficiency Analysis of Elementary Schools in Bratislava – A Two Step DEA Approach

Abstract Education is a key area that should matter to the whole society. Measuring efficiency in education is a widely discussed academic and professional topic. The presented article focuses on investigating the efficiency of 57 elementary schools in the city of Bratislava. We used a two-step approach. In addition to measuring the output efficiency of elementary schools through the analysis of the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis method (DEA) with variable returns of scale (VRS), we also performed regression analyses to examine the connection between contextual variables and the measured output efficiency. The analysis shows that the achieved output efficiency is positively associated by the technical equipment of schools, staff in schools and the establishment (prestige) of schools in society. We noted a negative association with the number of students with special needs. Our findings can serve the city administration, as they can largely influence the monitored parameters by their own decision.

An Aggregated Shape Similarity Index: A Case Study of Comparing the Footprints of OpenStreetMap and INSPIRE Buildings

The mutual identification of spatial objects is a fundamental issue when updating geographic data with other data sets. Representations of spatial objects in different sources may not have the same identifiers, which would unambiguously assign them to each other. Intersections of spatial objects can be used for this purpose, but this does not allow for the detection of possible changes and their quantification. The aim of this paper is to propose a simple, applicable procedure for calculating the shape similarity measure, which should be able to efficiently identify different representations of spatial objects in two data sources, even though they may be changed or generalised. The main result is the aggregated index of shape similarity and instructions for its calculation and implementation. The shape similarity index is based on the calculation of the set similarity, the distance of the boundaries, and the differences in the area, perimeter, and number of the vertices of areal spatial objects. In the case study, the footprints of the building complexes in Dúbravka (part of the city of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia) are compared using data from OpenStreetMap and INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) Buildings. A contribution to the quality check of the OpenStreetMap data is then a secondary result. The proposed method can be effectively used in the semi-automatic integration of heterogeneous data sources, updating the data source with other spatial data, or in their quality control.

Overview of Sports Infrastructure in City of Bratislava: Challenges, Opportunities, and Research Agenda

This article provides a summary of the sport infrastructure in the context of sustainability in the city of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Sport infrastructure served as a vital aspect of urban development, playing a significant role in promoting the wellbeing of the population, enhancing social cohesion, and advancing economic growth. The article underscores the challenges the city is facing as well as its recent efforts to improve its sport infrastructure. The lack of suitable locations in the city is one of the greatest obstacles to the development of Bratislava’s sport infrastructure. Although there are many sports facilities in the city, the majority of them are out-of-date and unable to accommodate the rising demand for sports participation. Besides, the city’s sport infrastructure is largely concentrated in a few areas, making it challenging for citizens to participate in sports in other parts of the city. Bratislava had also made investments in creating parks and bike paths within the city to encourage active lifestyle and advance sustainable transportation. A recently re-elected major would be able to continue working towards sustainability goals as started in his previous election term. Additionally, maintaining support and investment in sports infrastructure would have a long-term advantages for both the sports community, the general public and sport tourists. The expansion and improvement of Bratislava’s sport infrastructure could lead to a more engaged and active population, increased social cohesion, and improved public health if thoughtfully planned and carried out in a sustainable manner.

Reproductive capacity and seed germination after various storage of the invasive alien plant Amorpha fruticosa L. - a case study from Bratislava

Amorpha fruticosa L. (Fabaceae) shows two reproductive modes, generative via seeds and vegetative via root-shoots. We studied the reproductive ability on a mixed sample collected from 6 localities in the city of Bratislava: compound fruiting per bush (12.55 ± 8.55), fruiting per bush (70.33 ± 48.04) and fruits per bush (16127.33 ± 24212.25). No significant difference was found between germination values from unpeeled fruits (achenes) and peeled fruits (seeds). Both seeds and fruits germinated very well both immediately after harvest and after storage under different temperature conditions. Peeled achenes germinated earlier. We stored seeds and fruits under different conditions, and found that the highest seed germination values were achieved by seeds stored in the dark at 22°C (60.00%) and by non-stored seeds (57.50%). The longest seedlings grew from seeds (8.48 mm) and from fruits (9.08 mm) stored at 22°C.

Smart City Solutions and the Air Quality in the COVID Times – Case Study of Bratislava

The aim of the paper is to determine the status of adoption of smart city initiative in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, in relation to the air quality in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and its cost. Consistent with recently published studies, the results of our analysis did not show a significant improvement in all pollution parameters. The only significant improvement was observed for the NO2 pollutant. Following this fact, the results of an informant interview with the city of Bratislava can be interpreted, which unfortunately confirmed that the city lags significantly behind smart solutions to support air quality, although the pollution rate in Bratislava is relatively high and did not decrease significantly during 2020. Moreover, the economic costs of the effects of pollution are higher than its prevention.

Environmental and health impacts assessment of long-term naturally-weathered municipal solid waste incineration ashes deposited in soil—old burden in Bratislava city, Slovakia

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) is an effective method for reducing the volume/mass of waste. However, MSWI ashes contain high concentrations of many substances, including trace metal (loid)s, that could be released into the environment and contaminate soils and groundwater. In this study, attention was focused on the site near the municipal solid waste incinerator where MSWI ashes are deposited on the surface without any control. Here, combined results (chemical and mineralogical analyses, leaching tests, speciation modelling, groundwater chemistry and human health risk assessment) are presented to assess the impact of MSWI ash on the surrounding environment. The mineralogy of ∼forty years old MSWI ash was diverse, and quartz, calcite, mullite, apatite, hematite, goethite, amorphous glasses and several Cu-bearing minerals (e.g. malachite, brochantite) were commonly detected. In general, the total concentrations of metal (loid)s in MSWI ashes were high, following the order: Zn (6731 mg/kg) > Ba (1969 mg/kg) ≈ Mn (1824 mg/kg) > Cu (1697 mg/kg) > Pb (1453 mg/kg) > Cr (247 mg/kg) > Ni (132 mg/kg) > Sb (59.4 mg/kg) > As (22.9 mg/kg) ≈ Cd (20.6 mg/kg). Cadmium, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn exceeded the indication or even intervention criteria for industrial soils defined by the Slovak legislation. Batch leaching experiments with diluted citric and oxalic acids that simulate the leaching of chemical elements under rhizosphere conditions documented low dissolved fractions of metals (0.00–2.48%) in MSWI ash samples, showing their high geochemical stability. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were below the threshold values of 1.0 and 1 × 10−6, respectively, with soil ingestion being the most important exposure route for workers. The groundwater chemistry was unaffected by deposited MSWI ashes. This study may be useful in determining the environmental risks of trace metal (loid)s in weathered MSWI ashes that are loosely deposited on the soil surface.

Estimating distance decay of intra-urban trips using mobile phone data: The case of Bratislava, Slovakia

The distance decay function has been attracting attention in diverse disciplines including transportation studies, spatial planning and urban geography. In particular, much discussion has concentrated on the measurement of distance decay on the regional scale, since the emphasis of the model utilisation has been on explaining interregional mobility (mainly commuting). The intra-urban context makes the estimation more complicated and the fundamental questions, such as how far people travel within the city to reach a variety of urban destinations, and whether there are potentially significant differences between these types of destinations, are still not answered in a satisfactory way. In response to this challenge, the paper attempts to reveal the spatial variations of the distance decay effect on movements in urban space through the utilisation of mobile phone data. The signalling data from all major mobile network operators in Slovakia represent new opportunities with high accuracy of measurement and complexity of representation. The methodological procedure for deriving data about human daily movements from the mobile network at the level of 1 × 1 km statistical grid cells is presented. The objective is to estimate the appropriate distance decay functions for urban grids and demonstrate the variation of decay curves within the Bratislava city. The findings relativise the decay law of human mobility. For the approximation of daily mobility within the urban area, the polynomial-exponential function – the decreasing function with a small increase of interaction intensity at a greater distance – describes the impedance of travel distance more preferably. However, a significant proportion of urban grids have recorded weak or even no decay. A question worth investigating is whether the resulting friction of distance is a result of a specific functional structure of the study area, or it could reflect an advanced stage of urban evolution.

Use of Satellite Images to Determine the Temperature of Urban Surfaces for Landscape Management Purposes, Case Study Bratislava (Slovak Republic)

This contribution deals with the use of data obtained from Landsat 8 satellite imaging to identify surface temperature variability in the example of the city of Bratislava, with an emphasis on identifying hotspots outside the built-up area, for example, on agricultural land—locations which are part of the European Network of Protected Areas. Surface temperature variability is presented in two time periods, on the daytime image taken on 26 July 2021 and on the nighttime image from 28 June 2021. Surface temperature is projected in a profile cut of the area. It vertically illustrates the temperatures of individual types of surfaces. Surfaces are classified by Urban Atlas classes. Areas reflecting the spatial distribution of the residential development in the city of Bratislava have been identified by satellite images in the studied area, and they represent a phenomenon of the urban heat island. Such areas were also identified outside the built-up area, in agricultural areas. The results of our research show that it is important to deal with UHI outside the built-up areas of cities and to orient the attention the territory planning and also to the proposal of measures for the management of these areas. Especially if these areas also include territories of the European system of protected areas, as it is in the case of Bratislava city (e.g., SPA029 Sysľovské polia). The results of reducing the impacts of climate change in cities concern not only the residents. In spatial planning, it is also necessary to address the management of non-built-up areas—localities with a quasi-natural character (e.g., areas with diverse vegetation cover). In order to recognize UHI within residential areas, it is essential to identify areas with significant differences between daytime and nighttime surface temperatures. Large differences between night and daytime surface temperatures can be seen in areas outside the built-up area in Bratislava on arable land where the difference is up to 8.0 °C (in the continuous housing class where the proportion of impermeable surfaces is higher than 80% with a temperature difference of 7.6 °C). Identification of overheated surfaces in the territory makes an important basis for modification of the landscape management and management of nature protection areas. It is important to propose measures related to the reduction in the negative impacts of climate change on the landscape and biodiversity.

Relikviáre a kláštorné práce v zbierkach Múzea mesta Bratislavy

Bratislava City Museum’s extensive collection includes a typologically diverse set of objects of religious character. It includes a valuable collection of objects relating to the cult of saints, such as reliquaries and monastic works, also referred to as ‘flowers of patience’ in scholarly literature. Several works come from churches and monasteries in Bratislava (Ursulines, Sisters of St Elizabeth, Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God) and were probably home-made. The collection is primarily composed of artefacts from the 18th century, with some examples of 19th century works. The paper presents a comprehensive overview of this so-far relatively little-known group of arts and crafts objects. It provides a more detailed typological classification and attempts to place them in the broader context of works of a similar kind in the Central European region.

Deformations of Image Blocks in Photogrammetric Documentation of Cultural Heritage—Case Study: Saint James’s Chapel in Bratislava, Slovakia

Structure from motion photogrammetry is currently one of the most frequently used technologies for the documentation of archaeological sites. Due to the relatively high freedom in choosing the position and orientation of the cameras, qualitatively different results for the reconstructed geometry can be achieved. Therefore, in the presented study, we focused on monitoring the changes in the geometry of point clouds obtained with different configurations of the camera network during the digitization of Saint James’s Chapel in Bratislava city. The changes of the tested photogrammetric variants were analyzed through comparison with scans from terrestrial laser scanning. The results suggest that caution should taken when striving for image recording efficiency, as insufficient connections between image blocks can lead to a decrease in relative accuracy, down to a level worse than 1:1000.

Electromagnetic Field Exposure in the Public Space of the Slovakian City

The main objective of our research was to map the exposure to electromagnetic smog in the frequented space of shopping centres in the city of Bratislava and to compare our results to the actual hygienic limits. The measurements of the low- and high-frequency electromagnetic fields were performed at different places in shopping centres. Our results did not exceed the Slovak current limits in any of the measurements. However, almost all of them markedly exceed new permitted limits according to EUROPAEM. Based on our results, stricter limits in many European countries and increasing evidence on possible harmfulness of long-term exposures to artificial electromagnetic fields, preventive carefulness can be recommended - to support the research in this field, to prepare professional public education and possibly to prepare the stricter Slovak exposure limits.

Malacological news from the Czech and Slovak Republics in 2021

This paper presents important faunistic records conducted in the Czech and Slovak Republics during 2021. In the Šumava Mts, South Bohemia, a hydrobiid snail of the genus Alzoniella was found. Monacha cantiana s. lato was genetically confirmed for the first time in the city of Bratislava, Slovakia. New sites of Cornu aspersum (Prague) and Tandonia kusceri (southern and central Slovakia) were confirmed. A new colony of the slug Limacus maculatus was found in SE Moravia. New records of several endangered species, e.g. Vertigo angustior, V. moulinsiana, Anisus septemgyratus, Gyraulus acronicus, G. rossmaessleri, Planorbis carinatus, Pisidium amnicum, P. globulare, P. moitessierianum, P. pseudosphaerium and P. tenuilineatum, are also presented. Location data are published with all details in a supplementary table.

Comparison of the differences in the composition of ruderal flora between conventional tram tracks and managed green tram tracks in the urban ecosystem of the city of Bratislava

Abstract Green infrastructure (GI) brings many benefits to urban ecosystems. Green tram tracks can be considered to be a part of GI. The presented study is focused on the comparison of the species’ frequency and composition between conventional tram tracks and green tram tracks in Bratislava, Slovakia, Central Europe. This comparison also provides an insight into the changes of the flora of tram tracks over time, as we compare the results of the older research with recent research on green tram tracks. The results revealed significant differences in the composition of flora between conventional tram tracks and green tram tracks. In particular, the total number of species has decreased over time, as green tram tracks host fewer spontaneously growing taxa than conventional ones. The frequency of occurrence of archaeophytes and neophytes has decreased on the strict rail yard while on the tracksides it has increased. Green tram tracks deliver positive features to ecosystems, but may also have negative aspects because they present a pool of alien, potentially invasive plants.